JAIPUR: Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas has attacked the BJP state govt for allocating Rs 100 crore for the India International Film Academy (IIFA) awards event being held in Jaipur. He alleged the state govt contributed Rs 50 crore, tourism department Rs 30 crore and RIICO Rs 20 crore, for the event.
The office of deputy chief minister Diya Kumari, who holds the finance and tourism portfolio, confirmed the allocation of Rs 100 crore by the state govt for the IIFA event.
Justifying the expenditure, Kumari told reporters, “Our film tourism and employment opportunities in Rajasthan will get a boost with the IIFA awards. This is a good initiative and just the beginning. We will continue organising such global events in Rajasthan. Through these awards, Rajasthan will gain global recognition and tourism will receive a boost.”
Addressing the media, chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said the event will establish Rajasthan as a major centre for global film shooting locations, destination weddings and live events. “Additionally, new dimensions of concert tourism will open up in Rajasthan,” Sharma added.
Khachariyawas criticised the spending as a misuse of taxpayers’ money, as IIFA is expected to earn over Rs 2,000 crore from the event. The former minister said the BJP govt ‘illegally’ allocated Rs 100 crore to the awards event.
“Wasting taxpayers’ money, earned through the hard work of the state’s people, is an insult to Rajasthan,” he said.
“Expensive tickets priced at Rs 5 lakh, Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh are being sold, and the IIFA will receive thousands of crores from advertisements worldwide,” the former minister added.
“The state govt should explain the basis for contributing Rs 100 crore for the event as this is a direct betrayal of the state’s people. Common people are struggling for livelihood, the poor cannot afford food, while medicines have become expensive. In such a situation, the state’s senior leaders and officials are committing a sin by allocating so much for this event. This allocation is a major scandal and a betrayal of the state’s people,” said Khachariyawas.
